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avoid abusing it； any more than others could avoid turning it to a
profitable account？ I did not see how they could； this poor simple
woman found a book in her mother's closet； a book； which was a
capital book for those who could turn it to the account for which
it was intended； a book； from the perusal of which I felt myself
wiser and better； but which was by no means suited to the intellect
of this poor simple woman； who thought that it was written in
praise of thieving； yet she found it； she read it； and … and … I
felt myself getting into a maze； what is right； thought I？ what is
wrong？ Do I exist？ Does the world exist？ if it does； every action
is bound up with necessity。
'Necessity！' I exclaimed； and cracked my finger…joints。
'Ah； it is a bad thing；' said the old woman。
'What is a bad thing？' said I。
'Why to be poor； dear。'
'You talk like a fool；' said I； 'riches and poverty are only
different forms of necessity。'
'You should not call me a fool； dear； you should not call your own
mother a fool。'
'You are not my mother；' said I。
'Not your mother； dear？ … no； no more I am； but your calling me
fool put me in mind of my dear son； who often used to call me fool
… and you just now looked as he sometimes did； with a blob of foam
on your lip。'
'After all； I don't know that you are not my mother。'
'Don't you； dear？ I'm glad of it； I wish you would make it out。'
'How should I make it out？ who can speak from his own knowledge as
to the circumstances of his birth？ Besides； before attempting to
establish our relationship； it would be necessary to prove that
such people exist。'
'What people； dear？'
'You and I。'
'Lord； child； you are mad； that book has made you so。'
'Don't abuse it；' said I； 'the book is an excellent one； that is；
provided it exists。'
'I wish it did not；' said the old woman； 'but it shan't long； I'll
burn it； or fling it into the river … the voices at night tell me
to do so。'
'Tell the voices；' said I； 'that they talk nonsense； the book； if
it exists； is a good book； it contains a deep moral； have you read
it all？'
'All the funny parts； dear； all about taking things； and the manner
it was done； as for the rest； I could not exactly make it out。'
'Then the book is not to blame； I repeat that the book is a good
book； and contains deep morality； always supposing that there is
such a thing as morality； which is the same thing as supposing that
there is anything at all。'
'Anything at all！ Why ain't we here on this bridge； in my booth；
with my stall and my … '
'Apples and pears； baked hot； you would say … I don't know； all is
a mystery； a deep question。 It is a question； and probably always
will be； whether there is a world； and consequently apples and
pears； and； provided there be a world； whether that world be like
an apple or a pear。'
'Don't talk so； dear。'
'I won't； we will suppose that we all exist … world； ourselves；
apples； and pears： so you wish to get rid of the book？'
'Yes； dear； I wish you would take it。'
'I have read it； and have no farther use for it； I do not need
books： in a little time； perhaps； I shall not have a place wherein
to deposit myself； far less books。'
'Then I will fling it into the river。'
'Don't do that； here； give it me。 Now what shall I do with it？ you
were so fond of it。'
'I am so no longer。'
'But how will you pass your time； what will you read？'
'I wish I had never learned to read； or； if I had； that I had only
read the books I saw at school： the primer or the other。'
'What was the other？'
'I think they called it the Bible： all about God； and Job； and
Jesus。'
'Ah； I know it。'
'You have read it； is it a nice book … all true？'
'True； true … I don't know what to say； but if the world be true；
and not all a lie； a fiction； I don't see why the Bible； as they
call it； should not be true。 By the bye； what do you call Bible in
your tongue； or； indeed； book of any kind？ as Bible merely means a
book。'
'What do I call the Bible in my language； dear？'
'Yes； the language of those who bring you things。'
'The language of those who DID； dear； they bring them now no
longer。 They call me fool； as you did； dear； just now； they call
kissing the Bible； which means taking a false oath； smacking calf…
skin。'
'That's metaphor；' said I； 'English； but metaphorical； what an odd
language！ So you would like to have a Bible； … shall I buy you
one？'
'I am poor； dear … no money since I left off the other trade。'
'Well； then； I'll buy you one。'
'No； dear； no； you are poor； and may soon want the money； but if
you can take me one conveniently on the sly； you know … I think you
may； for； as it is a good book； I suppose there can be no harm in
taking it。'
'That will never do；' said I； 'more especially as I should be sure
to be caught； not having made taking of things my trade； but I'll
tell you what I'll do … try and exchange this book of yours for a
Bible； who knows for what great things this same book of yours may
serve？'
'Well； dear；' said the old woman； 'do as you please； I should like
to see the … what do you call it？ … Bible； and to read it； as you
seem to think it true。'
'Yes；' said I； 'seem； that is the way to express yourself in this
maze of doubt … I seem to think … these apples and pears seem to be
… and here seems to be a gentleman who wants to purchase either one
or the other。'
A person had stopped before the apple…woman's stall； and was
glancing now at the fruit； now at the old woman and myself； he wore
a blue mantle； and had a kind of fur cap on his head； he was
somewhat above the middle stature； his features were keen； but
rather hard； there was a slight obliquity in his vision。 Selecting
a small apple； he gave the old woman a penny； then； after looking
at me scrutinisingly for a moment； he moved from the booth in the
direction of Southwark。
'Do you know who that man is？' said I to the old woman。
'No；' said she； 'except that he is one of my best customers： he
frequently stops； takes an apple； and gives me a penny； his is the
only piece of money I have taken this blessed day。 I don't know
him； but he has once or twice sat down in the booth with two
strange…looking men … Mulattos； or Lascars； I think they call
them。'
CHAPTER XLV
Bought and exchanged … Quite empty … A new firm … Bibles …
Countenance of a lion … Clap of thunder … A truce with this … I
have lost it … Clearly a right … Goddess of the Mint。
IN pursuance of my promise to the old woman； I set about procuring
her a Bible with all convenient speed； placing the book which she
had intrusted to me for the purpose of exchange in my pocket。 I
went to several shops； and asked if Bibles were to be had： I found
that there were plenty。 When； however； I informed the people that
I came to barter； they looked blank； and declined treating with me；
saying that they did not do business in that way。 At last I went
into a shop over the window of which I saw written； 'Books bought
and exchanged'： there was a smartish young fellow in the shop；
with black hair and whiskers； 'You exchange？' said I。 'Yes；' said
he； 'sometimes； but we prefer selling； what book do you want？' 'A
Bible；' said I。 'Ah；' said he； 'there's a great demand for Bibles
just now； all kinds of people are become very pious of late；' he
added； grinning at me； 'I am afraid I can't do business with you；
more especially as the master is not at home。 What book have you
brought？' Taking the book out of my pocket； I placed it on the
counter： the young fellow opened the book； and inspecting the
title…page； burst into a loud laugh。 'What do you laugh for？' said
I； angrily； and half clenching my fist。 'Laugh！' said the young
fellow； 'laugh！ who could help laughing？' 'I could；' said I； 'I
see nothing to laugh at； I want to exchange this book for a Bible。'
'You do？' said the young fellow； 'well； I daresay there are plenty
who would be willing to exchange； that is； if they dared。 I wish
master were at home； but that would never do； either。 Master's a
family man； the Bibles are not mine； and master being a family man；
is sharp； and knows all his stock； I'd buy it of you； but； to tell
you the truth； I am quite empty here；' said he； pointing to his
pocket； 'so I am afraid we can't deal。'
Whereupon； looking anxiously at the young man； 'What am I to do？'
said I； 'I really want a Bible。'
'Can't you buy one？' said the young man； 'have you no money？'
'Yes；' said I； 'I have some； but I am merely the agent of another；
I came to exchange； not to buy； what am I to do？'
'I don't know；' said the young man； thoughtfully lay